BBB Warning: Beware Holiday Scammers
By Better Business Bureau
Published: Thu, December 04, 2008 - 2:18 pm
Last Updated: Fri, December 05, 2008 - 9:52 am
Pensacola, Fla. (December 4, 2008) – Your Better Business Bureau is warning consumers of a new string of phishing e-mails making the rounds this holiday season.
Scammers are posing as well-known companies that do a lot of business this time of year, attempting to steal personal information such as Social Security or credit card numbers.
“While most of the country is spreading peace and love this holiday season, criminals are spreading computer viruses and stealing identities,” said Norman Wright, President/CEO of your BBB serving northwest Florida. “Hackers pose as trusted businesses to take advantage of the seasonal increase in online shopping and shipping.”
Following are three phishing e-mails BBB has spotted this holiday season:
Shipping
Claiming to be from a legitimate shipping business such as FedEx or UPS, one phishing e-mail alleges a problem with delivery. It may include a link to a Web site that installs malware or solicits personal information. A recent message has a subject line of “Subject: Tracking Number 13040065504.” It advises, “To take your package back you should print the copy of invoice that is in the added file.” Of course, the attachment is a computer virus.
BBB ADVICE: Don’t click on a link in the e-mail; instead go directly to the shipper’s Web site or call the business (do not use a phone number provided in the e-mail) to ask if there is a shipping problem. Don’t open attachments in unsolicited e-mails.
Surveys offering holiday spending cash
Targeting cash-strapped holiday shoppers, other phishing e-mails pretend to be from retailers such as Wal-Mart. One has the subject, “Online Survey from Wal-Mart Stores!!!” The message says, “You’ve been selected to take part in our quick and easy 9 questions survey. In return we will credit $90.00 to your account - Just for your time!” The e-mail includes a link to a Web site to “take the survey,” but actually leads to a phishing site.
BBB ADVICE: Don’t respond to unsolicited e-mails promising money for answering surveys. E-mails offering big rewards for minimal effort usually cost you in the end.
E-cards
E-cards are a popular and inexpensive way to deliver season’s greetings. Legitimate e-cards typically send an e-mail with a hyperlink to a Web site hosting the e-card. Unfortunately, it's easy for hackers to disguise their phishing e-mails and direct users to Web sites that install viruses and malware.
BBB ADVICE: Phishing e-mails posing as e-cards can be difficult to spot. Be wary of
e-mails with spelling and grammatical mistakes and don’t follow links in an e-card if you don’t recognize the sender.
Consumers should report suspicious e-mails to the Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov.
For additional information and advice you can trust to stay safe this holiday season, start with bbb.org.
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